Windowpane
Opeth, 2003, from Damnation. Solo by Mikael Åkerfeldt.
Windowpane comes from Opeth's all-mellow album Damnation, produced by Steven Wilson, and shows Mikael Akerfeldt's gift for atmosphere. The solo is slow and moody, drawing on 1970s progressive rock with a jazzy, melancholy flavor. His tone is soft and slightly overdriven, blending seamlessly with the song's clean guitars and keyboards. The solo is understated but haunting, adding to the song's dreamy mood rather than breaking it. It showed metal fans how much Akerfeldt could achieve without distortion or growls. Listen for how the solo's phrases drift over the chords, often landing on unexpected notes that give the melody its melancholy color.
Windowpane by Opeth is featured in our Prog (#25) list. The solo is played by Mikael Åkerfeldt and the song was released in 2003.
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Prog Guitar Solos — #25
- Best of the 21st Century — #17
- The Best Opeth Guitar Solos — #12
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Windowpane?
Mikael Åkerfeldt played the solo on Opeth's Windowpane (2003).
What guitar was used on the Windowpane solo?
A prs, according to widely reported accounts.